We think of spring or summer, flowers, green leaves, and everything alive and well when we think of beautiful gardens. And when we think of winter, we usually picture empty spaces or maybe a few trees buried in snow. But not all plants die off as soon as the cold weather begins to creep in. With all-year-round plants, you can have plants with leaves and flowers in your garden all year long without having to buy new ones every year.
We’ve made a list of 25+ perfect plants that last all year for permanent garden splendor.
A garden that excels in all four seasons relies on plants that provide multi-season interest. While spring ephemerals and summer perennials take the spotlight for a brief period, certain trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials shine throughout the year. With thoughtful plant choices, it’s possible to have beautiful structure, foliage and blooms in the garden no matter the season.
In this article, we’ll look at 15 top plants that help create year-round appeal:
Trees with Seasonal Interest
Trees form the backbone of the garden, lending height, shade and structure Consider these trees that contribute color, flowers or foliage appeal in every season
- Japanese Maple – Spring flowers, summer leaf color, fall color and winter branching
- Flowering Cherry – Spring blooms, summer foliage, fall color and winter form
- Crape Myrtle – Summer flowers, fall foliage and winter branching
- Redbud – Spring blooms, heart-shaped summer leaves, fall seeds, and winter form
- Serviceberry – Spring flowers, red summer berries, fall color, winter form
Evergreen Shrubs
Evergreen shrubs maintain their foliage year-round providing permanent structure and a backdrop for seasonal interest. Some top choices include
- Boxwood – Excellent for hedges and topiary
- Yew – Versatile for screens, hedges and specimens
- Holly – Spiny foliage and red winter berries
- Rhododendron – Large evergreen leaves and spring blooms
- Mountain Laurel – Glossy leaves and spring flower clusters
Deciduous Shrubs for All Seasons
While deciduous shrubs lose their leaves in winter, many contribute great interest in other seasons. Some top picks:
- Hydrangea – Spring flowers, lush summer leaves, fall color
- Spirea – Spring blooms, fall foliage and winter branching
- Viburnum – Spring flowers, red fall berries, winter branching
- Fothergilla – Spring blooms, blazing fall foliage, winter form
- Beautyberry – Spring to fall foliage, vivid fall berries
Ornamental Grasses
Grasses lend texture and movement to gardens all year:
- Maiden Grass – Tan summer foliage, golden fall color
- Switch Grass – Blue-green summer blades, yellow fall color
- Fountain Grass – Mounded form, pink summer blooms, beige winter color
- Dwarf Fescue – Low, neat mounds of grass for edging
Perennials for Seasonal Interest
Certain perennials shine far beyond their flowering period:
- Coral Bells – Spring flowers, colored foliage
- Hosta – Bold summer leaves, fall color
- Variegated Sedge – Creamy stripes on grassy foliage
- Hellebore – Winter blooms, evergreen foliage
- Ornamental Sage – Spikes of fall flowers, aromatic foliage
Tips for Maximizing Impact
Follow these tips to get the most from your four-season garden:
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Include a mix of deciduous and evergreen plants for year-round structure.
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Select trees, shrubs and perennials with multi-season appeal like showy fruit, fall foliage and winter branching.
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Combine plants with different peak bloom times for continuous color.
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Use grasses and colored foliage to add texture and color in winter when blooms are few.
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Include plants of varied heights and forms for visual interest and diversity.
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Use pots and containers to add seasonal color that can be changed out.
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Add focal points like statues, arbors and fountains that look great year-round.
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Include bird feeders, nest boxes and water features for winter wildlife watching.
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Avoid extensive mulch beds, leaving some soil and plants exposed for winter appeal.
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Light trees and shrubs at dusk to highlight their bark and structure.
Sample Plant Combinations for Year-Round Impact
Here are a few plant combinations that will provide four seasons of beauty:
Spring: Flowering cherry tree, spirea, daffodils, hyacinths
Summer: Hydrangea, Russian sage, daylilies, creeping Jenny
Fall: Burning bush, asters, mums, ornamental grasses
Winter: Evergreens, dogwoods, winterberry holly, hellebores
With thoughtful plant selection and design, you can easily create a garden brimming with life and beauty all year long. Play with textures, forms and colors as the seasons change for a landscape that reflects nature’s constant beauty.
Are There Plants that Grow All Year Round?
When most plants are dormant, it’s hard for them to grow. But if the right conditions are met, indoor plants can “force” themselves to grow all year. If winters are not extremely harsh in your area, some outdoor perennials will display growth throughout the year.
What Plants Are Best for Year-Round Cultivation?
Most plants do better when they are planted in the spring, after the risk of frost has passed, or at the start of fall, to avoid the hot weather of summer, but there are some exceptions. There are specific plants for each season. You may know this about crops and other plants used in agriculture, but it also applies to ornamental plants. These are called seasonal plants.
The best way to make sure your garden looks beautiful all year is to mix both perennial and annual plants with different traits. This will make sure that your garden always looks nice and serves a purpose. It will also create a beautiful and varied landscape.
20 Shrubs that Bloom All Year | Year Round Shrubs According to Season
FAQ
What is the best plant for all year round?
What is the best plant that blooms all year?
What are the best plants for pots all year round?
What flower grows all year round?
Which plants are a good year-round plant?
Here are 10 plants that offer (almost) year-round interest. Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ bears pinky-violet coloured blossom on bare stems in spring, followed by beautiful, dark purple heart-shaped leaves in summer. In autumn, they turn yellow before falling.
What are the best year-round plants for pots?
We’ve assembled the best year-round plants for pots to keep your porch and patio looking their best no matter the season. Broadleaf and needled evergreens seamlessly carry containers from one season to the next, while flowering shrubs and perennials add pops of color throughout the year–including winter! And blooms are not the only source of color.
What plants bloom year-round?
Here’s a list of 31 plants to brighten your garden and bloom year-round. African Violet is a shade-loving plant that loves humidity and can bloom all year round. These are low-maintenance plants that can live for a very long time and are known to bloom year-round. They have fuzzy succulent-type leaves that help the plant absorb water.
Which plants are best for a garden?
Plants that share beauty and interest year-round maximize precious garden real estate. Perennials, trees, shrubs, and even annuals that look stunning year-round give the best bang for your gardening buck. Trees with elegant branching frosted in the snow are a magnificent sight in winter.